Satisfaction with Work

2018

"This can range from creating bibles to research to comparison of terms in credit facilities and more."

"Trainees are given a lot of responsibility. I have led calls with clients, revised documents, produced client memoranda and produced written advocacy."

"There are some menial tasks but the work is mostly varied and interesting."

"I'm quite satisfied but it varies depending on the deal and the individuals I work for. It ranges from doing a first review of documentation to putting signature packs together."

"My work varies from traditional trainee tasks (drafting board minutes and reviewing documents) to tasks that associates would normally do (running parts of deals and drafting more complex documents). The latter is more interesting but the responsibility can be hefty for a junior trainee, especially if it is something you've never encountered."

2017

"I am given a significant degree of responsibility."

First year trainee, London

"My work each day can vary quite a bit and is fundamentally driven by the nature and shape of the deal. On some deals, I have been very involved and been given the responsibility of being the point man in coordinating local counsel in the various jurisdictions. On other deals, I've played more of a typical background trainee role and have been responsible for the collation of documents as well as research into complex areas of law. Overall, I'm satisfied with the quality of work I'm given as most of it manages to stretch me without being so unmanageable that I feel like I'm drowning."

First year trainee, London

"I'm generally very satisfied with the quality of work I am assigned. I particularly enjoy being given the opportunity to do a first draft of an agreement or document, which is reviewed and commented on by the associate/partner. It's the best way to learn how to get things done and what to watch out for as well as how to protect a client's position when negotiating provisions with the other side. I occasionally undertake mechanical roles such as compiling deal bibles or signature page packs, but this is only a small portion of what I do on a day-to-day basis and I most often work on live matters with direct client contact."

Second year trainee, London (currently seconded to Hong Kong)

"Generally, the work is quite exciting. I have already led a few calls and really been pushed out of my comfort zone."

First year trainee, London

"I'm considerably satisfied as there's very little on the menial side. Perhaps there's too much on the sink-or-swim side at times but there is almost always someone around to throw a lifeline."

First year trainee, London

"It ranges from typical trainee tasks such as drafting to more interesting pieces of work that require a lot of responsibility."

First year trainee, London

2016

"Trainees are given a great deal of responsibility at S&C and get involved in a large number of varied and interesting deals."

Second year trainee, London

"Regular client contact through calls, meetings, and emails. Lots of responsibility and the chance to look after your own work streams."

Second year trainee, London

"My supervisors so far have generally been keen to get me involved in specified 'work streams' within the deal, allowing me to take charge of them. This is generally more enjoyable than working on smaller tasks which may come up from time-to-time and involves client interaction through emails. There's generally not much face-to-face client interaction as almost everything is done through email."

First year trainee, London

"In my first seat I had lots of client interaction, I was included in conference calls and attended meetings and signings. I was also given lots of responsibility drafting and managing the structure of the deal, as well as completing trainee tasks such as research."

First year trainee, London

"The trainees at S&C are given a large amount of responsibility from day one. The senior lawyers are happy to let trainees perform a first round of drafting (while answering any questions) and are also happy to discuss the drafting, changes they would make and, most importantly, the reasons for those changes so that we can improve our drafting for the future. Senior lawyers are also happy to have trainees sitting in on calls and meetings with clients and to speak to those clients if an appropriate opportunity arises."

Second year trainee, Melbourne

2015

"Great range and variety of work. Even as first seat trainee I was given high level of responsibility (under appropriate supervision). One of the benefits of working in smaller teams is that as a trainee you often get assigned control over a particular work-stream which you can see through to the end."

Second year trainee,

"Deal teams in S&C tend to be small, and a trainee is treated as a junior associate. We're invited to practically all meetings and conference calls with clients, and are often the first contact point for clients (especially junior officers at the client) on a deal."

Second year trainee,

"There is such a high level of work given to us from a very early stage and this leads to work that would usually be handled by someone much more senior than us. There is always a safety net and the lawyers are very helpful but it really feels like we add value to the firm rather than just being used for menial tasks. I have been involved in drafting agreements and closings, and worked closely with clients in both of these tasks."

First year trainee,

"Generally there is a decent amount of client interaction, given our areas of practice (almost exclusively corporate and finance). I have been able to attend client meetings at private equity houses and am included on all phone calls with clients. Day-to-day responsibilities are standard but we are staffed very leanly (often just one partner, one senior associate and one junior or a trainee) so there is a lot of opportunity to do associate-level work."

First year trainee,

2014

"The small intake of trainees means that the work assigned is top quality from the start with plenty of opportunity to take responsibility. There is also a lot of partner interaction."

First year trainee, London

"The work that I have been given has been both interesting and challenging. In just a few months, my communication skills have significantly improved and tasks that once seemed daunting are now second nature to me. There has been plenty of client contact so far - ranging from email correspondence to client calls and attending board meetings."

First year trainee, London

"The work is very challenging; the firm generally takes on interesting and unique cases, almost all of which has a cross-border dimension. The fact that the deal teams are small means that trainees get involved with all sorts of work (including drafting) early on."

Our 'Inside Buzz' reviews are the comments and views of recent graduate recruits, giving you a view of what it may be like to work for an organisation. Copyright of all TARGETjobs Inside Buzz material lies solely with GTI Media.

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